The 2014 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 55th in the National Football League (NFL), their sixth playing home games at AT&T Stadium and their fourth full season under head coach Jason Garrett.
The team improved on their 8–8 record from 2013, finishing 12–4 in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC; however, the Cowboys lost the conference record tiebreakers to both the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers and had to start their postseason in the wild card round, despite holding the head-to-head victory against the former. They started with a 24–20 win over the Detroit Lions before losing to the Packers 26–21 the following week, ending their season.
Offseason Players added Pos. Player 2013 TeamLB Rolando McClain Oakland RaidersQB Brandon Weeden Cleveland Browns
Players lost Pos. Player 2014 TeamWR Miles Austin Cleveland BrownsQB Kyle Orton Buffalo BillsDE DeMarcus Ware Denver Broncos
2014 draft class
Notes The Cowboys traded their original second-round (No. 47 overall) and third-round (No. 78 overall) selections to the Washington Redskins in exchange for a second-round (No. 34 overall) selection. The Cowboys traded tight end Dante Rosario to the Chicago Bears for a seventh-round (No. 229 overall) selection. The Cowboys traded their fifth-round (No. 158 overall) and seventh-round (No. 229 overall, acquired from Chicago) selections to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a fifth-round (No. 146 overall) selection. The Cowboys traded their sixth-round (No. 193 overall) selection to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for linebacker Edgar Jones and a seventh-round (No. 238 overall) selection.
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Josh Aladenoye Tackle Illinois State Chris Boyd Wide receiver Vanderbilt Dartwan Bush Defensive tackle Texas Tech Davon Coleman Defensive tackle Arizona State Andre Cureton Tackle Cincinnati J. C. Copeland Fullback LSU Casey Kreiter Long Snpper Iowa Ben Malena Running back Texas A&M Cody Mandell Punter Alabama Jordan Najvar Tight end Baylor Tyler Patmon Cornerback Oklahoma State Ronald Patrick Guard South Carolina Dontavis Sapp Linebacker Tennessee Keith Smith Linebacker San Jose State Dustin Vaughan Quarterback West Texas A&M
Offseason After the departure of long time Cowboys favorites defensive end/linebacker DeMarcus Ware and defensive tackle Jason Hatcher to free agency, and a season-ending knee injury to middle linebacker Sean Lee during organized team activities in late May, the Dallas Cowboys were one of the most heavily admonished and second-guessed NFL franchises through the entire preseason and well into the regular season. Much of the criticism was in response to the Cowboys selecting Notre Dame offensive guard Zack Martin over the perceived Cowboys savior (Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel) in the first round of the NFL draft. Even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones uncharacteristically downplayed expectations for the upcoming season during spring training, emphasizing to the media and fans that it might take a little more time for the Cowboys' young players to mature into a championship-caliber team.
Regular season Adding injury to the many insults hurled at Jerry Jones, quarterback Tony Romo and the Cowboys organization in general, Romo did not play well during two preseason starts after receiving only a small percentage of snaps throughout training camp, due to his continuing recovery from off-season surgery to repair a herniated intervertebral disc in his lower back. For these reasons, Romo and the Cowboys' passing offense struggled for the first two games of the regular season, causing many fans and media to declare the Dallas Cowboys as the absolute worst team in the league after their week 1 loss to the 49ers at AT&T Stadium. A humiliating turnover led to defeat for Dallas, which appeared to prove all the Cowboys' critics right, that Jerry Jones should have selected quarterback Johnny "Football" Manziel in the first round of the NFL 2014 draft to eventually replace Romo. But by season's end, not only would Romo have the highest passer rating (113.2) in the NFL for the 2014 regular season, but first-round pick offensive guard Zack Martin (whom the Cowboys had drafted instead of Manziel) would have a well deserved All-Pro season while establishing himself as a critical piece in what many considered to be the best offensive line in the NFL. The stout run-blocking of the Cowboys' offensive line would help two different Cowboys running backs (DeMarco Murray in 2014 and Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 and 2018) win 3 NFL rushing titles in 5 seasons.
Following a win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16 (and after the Philadelphia Eagles' loss to the Washington Redskins), the Cowboys clinched the NFC East title, putting them in the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Cowboys finished 12–4, improving on their 8–8 record from 2013. For the season, the team was 8–0 on the road. Plenty of milestones were established by the 2014 Cowboys team, topped by DeMarco Murray's record-setting rushing season. The Cowboys defeated the Detroit Lions at home 24–20 in the wild-card round of the playoffs and advanced to the divisional round. However, the Green Bay Packers defeated them 26–21, handing the Cowboys their first road loss and ending their season.
Staff
Rosters
Opening preseason roster 2014 Dallas Cowboys opening preseason roster Quarterbacks Caleb Hanie Tony Romo Dustin Vaughan Brandon Weeden
Running backs Tyler Clutts FB J. C. Copeland FB Lance Dunbar Ben Malena DeMarco Murray Joseph Randle Ryan Williams
Wide receivers Cole Beasley Tim Benford Chris Boyd Dezmon Briscoe Dez Bryant LaRon Byrd Dwayne Harris Jamar Newsome Devin Street Terrance Williams
Tight ends Gavin Escobar James Hanna Jordan Najvar Dallas Walker Jason Witten Offensive linemen Josh AladenoyeT/G Mackenzy Bernadeau G Andre Cureton G Travis Frederick C Doug Free T Ronald Leary G Zack Martin G Uche Nwaneri G Jermey Parnell T Ronald Patrick C/G Tyron Smith T Wayne Tribue G Darrion Weems T John Wetzel T/G
Defensive linemen Ben Bass DT/DE Ken Bishop DT Kenneth Boatright DE Dartwan Bush DE/DT Davon Coleman DT Tyrone Crawford DE/DT Ben Gardner DE Nick Hayden DT DeMarcus Lawrence DE Terrell McClain DT Henry Melton DT Jeremy Mincey DE Adewale Ojomo DE Caesar Rayford DE George Selvie DE Martez Wilson DELinebackers Bruce Carter OLB Justin Durant OLB Anthony Hitchens MLB/OLB DeVonte Holloman MLB/OLB Cameron Lawrence OLB Orie Lemon OLB/MLB Rolando McClain MLB Dontavis Sapp OLB Keith Smith OLB/SS Will Smith OLB Kyle Wilber OLB/DE
Defensive backs Brandon Carr CB Barry Church FS Morris Claiborne CB Ahmad Dixon SS Jakar Hamilton FS Jeff Heath SS Matt Johnson FS Korey Lindsey CB Terrance Mitchell CB Sterling Moore CB Tyler Patmon CB Orlando Scandrick CB Ryan Smith SS Johnny Thomas FS B. W. Webb CB J. J. Wilcox SS
Special teams Dan Bailey K Chris Jones P Casey Kreiter LS L. P. Ladouceur LS Cody Mandell P Reserve lists Brian Clarke G (Waived/Injured) Sean Lee MLB (IR) Darius Morris T/G (IR) Amobi Okoye DT (Active/NF-Inj.) Dashaun Phillips CB (Waived/Injured) Anthony Spencer DE (Active/PUP) Chris Whaley DT (NF-Inj.)
90 active, 5 inactive
Week one roster 2014 Dallas Cowboys week one roster Quarterbacks Tony Romo Dustin Vaughan Brandon Weeden
Running backs Tyler Clutts FB Lance Dunbar DeMarco Murray Joseph Randle
Wide receivers Cole Beasley Dez Bryant Dwayne Harris Devin Street Terrance Williams
Tight ends Gavin Escobar James Hanna Jason Witten Offensive linemen Mackenzy Bernadeau G Travis Frederick C Doug Free T Donald Hawkins G/T Ronald Leary G Zack Martin G Jermey Parnell T Tyron Smith T Darrion Weems T
Defensive linemen Ken Bishop DT Davon Coleman DT Jack Crawford DE Tyrone Crawford DE/DT Lavar Edwards DE Nick Hayden DT Terrell McClain DT Henry Melton DT Jeremy Mincey DE George Selvie DE Anthony Spencer DELinebackers Bruce Carter OLB Justin Durant OLB Anthony Hitchens MLB/OLB Cameron Lawrence OLB Rolando McClain MLB Korey Toomer OLB/MLB Kyle Wilber OLB/DE
Defensive backs Brandon Carr CB Barry Church FS Morris Claiborne CB Jeff Heath SS Sterling Moore CB Tyler Patmon CB C. J. Spillman FS J. J. Wilcox SS
Special teams Dan Bailey K Chris Jones P L. P. Ladouceur LS Reserve lists Josh Brent DT (Susp.) Brian Clarke G (IR) Ben Gardner DE (IR) Jakar Hamilton FS (Susp.) DeVonte Holloman MLB/OLB (IR) DeMarcus Lawrence DE (IR-DFR) Sean Lee MLB (IR) Orie Lemon OLB/MLB (IR) Jordan Najvar TE (IR) Amobi Okoye DT (NF-Inj.) Orlando Scandrick CB (Susp.) Chris Whaley DT (NF-Inj.)
Practice squad Tim Benford WR Kenneth Boatright DE Ronald Patrick C/G Micah Pellerin CB/FS Michael Sam DE Keith Smith OLB/SS Jemea Thomas FS/CB John Wetzel T/G Nikita Whitlock FB Ryan Williams RB
53 active, 12 inactive, 10 practice squad
Final roster 2014 Dallas Cowboys final roster Quarterbacks Tony Romo Dustin Vaughan Brandon Weeden
Running backs Tyler Clutts FB Lance Dunbar DeMarco Murray Joseph Randle
Wide receivers Cole Beasley Dez Bryant Dwayne Harris RS Devin Street Terrance Williams
Tight ends Gavin Escobar James Hanna Jason Witten Offensive linemen Mackenzy Bernadeau G/C Travis Frederick C Doug Free T Donald Hawkins G/T Tony Hills T Ronald Leary G Zack Martin G Jermey Parnell T Tyron Smith T
Defensive linemen Kenneth Boatright DE Josh Brent DT Tyrone Crawford DE/DT Nick Hayden DT DeMarcus Lawrence DE Terrell McClain DT Henry Melton DT Jeremy Mincey DE George Selvie DE Anthony Spencer DELinebackers Bruce Carter OLB Anthony Hitchens MLB/OLB Cameron Lawrence OLB Rolando McClain MLB Keith Smith OLB Dekoda Watson OLB Kyle Wilber OLB
Defensive backs Brandon Carr CB Barry Church SS Jakar Hamilton FS Jeff Heath SS Sterling Moore CB Tyler Patmon CB Orlando Scandrick CB C. J. Spillman FS J. J. Wilcox FS
Special teams Dan Bailey K Chris Jones P L. P. Ladouceur LS Reserve lists Morris Claiborne CB (IR) Jack Crawford DE (IR) Justin Durant OLB (IR) Ben Gardner DE (IR) DeVonte Holloman LB (IR) Sean Lee MLB (IR) Amobi Okoye DT (NF-Ill.) Darrion Weems T (IR) Chris Whaley DT (NF-Inj.)
Practice squad Mister Alexander LB Ken Bishop DT Chris Boyd WR Davon Coleman DT Troy Davis LB (IR) Reggie Dunn WR Lavar Edwards DE (IR) Micah Pellerin CB Will Smith LB Robert Steeples CB John Wetzel G Ryan Williams RB
53 active, 11 inactive, 10 practice squad
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 7 at San Diego Chargers L 7–27 0–1 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 2 August 16 Baltimore Ravens L 30–37 0–2 AT&T Stadium Recap 3 August 23 at Miami Dolphins L 20–25 0–3 Sun Life Stadium Recap 4 August 28 Denver Broncos L 3–27 0–4 AT&T Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 7 San Francisco 49ers L 17–28 0–1 AT&T Stadium Recap 2 September 14 at Tennessee Titans W 26–10 1–1 LP Field Recap 3 September 21 at St. Louis Rams W 34–31 2–1 Edward Jones Dome Recap 4 New Orleans Saints W 38–17 3–1 AT&T Stadium Recap 5 October 5 Houston Texans W 20–17 4–1 AT&T Stadium Recap 6 October 12 at Seattle Seahawks W 30–23 5–1 CenturyLink Field Recap 7 October 19 New York Giants W 31–21 6–1 AT&T Stadium Recap 8 Washington Redskins L 17–20 6–2 AT&T Stadium Recap 9 November 2 Arizona Cardinals L 17–28 6–3 AT&T Stadium Recap 10 November 9 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 31–17 7–3 Wembley Stadium Recap 11 Bye 12 at New York Giants W 31–28 8–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 13 November 27 Philadelphia Eagles L 10–33 8–4 AT&T Stadium Recap 14 at Chicago Bears W 41–28 9–4 Soldier Field Recap 15 at Philadelphia Eagles W 38–27 10–4 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 16 December 21 Indianapolis Colts W 42–7 11–4 AT&T Stadium Recap 17 December 28 at Washington Redskins W 44–17 12–4 FedExField Recap